The similarities are uncanny. Both are black and red and both have two internal combustion cylinders to propel them. Each employs heavy usage of exotic metals like titanium and magnesium, and the front wheels of both spend a lot of time in the air.

Top-shelf Ohlins suspension, high-spec Brembo brakes, carbon fiber bodywork and an engine bred on the world's best racetracks add up to a $30,000 price tag, making the 999R nearly as unobtainable as the Blackbird behind it.

The 999R's stability and clear feedback makes lean angles like this just a walk in the park. And keep in mind these are street tires we're on, the new (and excellent) Pilot Power from Michelin.

2005 Ducati 999R

2005 Ducati 999R

There's plenty of Twins out here at March Field.

If you look carefully, you can see that Ducati has left some paint off the Ducati 999R logo to let the webbing of the carbon fiber fairing show through. Mmmm, carbon fiber...

If the nose looks a little different, that's because it is. Gone are the second set of slots in the snout, leaving behind only the funtional air intakes and a much cleaner, more attractive proboscis.

Though they don't seem very similar at first glance, the Lockheed SR-71 shares a few traits with the 999R, not the least of which are twin-cylinder powerplants. However, the Ducati's 134 horsepower comes up a bit short in comparison with the 160,000 or so of the Lockheed.

Well, we're exagerating here, but the 999R is a significant step up in performance from the near-exotic 999S due largely to its race-bred motor that is unique to the R. Thanks to the good folks at http://www.marchfield.org/ March Field Air Museum in Riverside, California, for allowing us to bring ou

2005 Ducati 999R

The 999R's stability and clear feedback makes lean angles like this just a walk in the park. And keep in mind these are street tires we're on, the new (and excellent) Pilot Power from Michelin.